David Alan Peters-Alekos Fs2d Residential Doorbell &amp; Light

At Design Interviews

Interview with David Alan Peters : Frank Scott: What is the main principle, idea and inspiration behind your design?. David Alan Peters : I was inspired to make this particular design by a dream I had while I was working on it. .Frank Scott: What has been your main focus in designing this work? Especially what did you want to achieve?. David Alan Peters : I wanted the doorbell to be very unique and really capture peoples attention. after all it is one of the very first things a visitor interacts with when approaching your home. .Frank Scott: What are your future plans for this award winning design?. David Alan Peters : I would like to find a manufacturers representative or distributors that could help me get this product design into retail stores or mail order catalogs. .Frank Scott: How long did it take you to design this particular concept?. David Alan Peters : I worked on this design concept on and off for about two years, making revisions and refinements. .Frank Scott: Why did you design this particular concept? Was this design commissioned or did you decide to pursuit an inspiration?. David Alan Peters : I was trying to come up with a useful product design that was unique and could be used in or on the home, a product I could use to help start my business. This doorbell design has gone through many changes and refinements.
The final design is based on a dream I had about the doorbell. .Frank Scott: Is your design being produced or used by another company, or do you plan to sell or lease the production rights or do you intent to produce your work yourself?. David Alan Peters : I plan on manufacturing the product myself but will consider leasing the production right to other companies. .Frank Scott: What made you design this particular type of work?. David Alan Peters : I wanted to design a product for the home. .Frank Scott: Where there any other designs and/or designers that helped the influence the design of your work?. David Alan Peters : Many things helped influence the design of this doorbell such as new and old European and American Architectural details. The final design is modeled after a dream I had. .Frank Scott: Who is the target customer for his design?. David Alan Peters : Middle to upper middle class home owners. .Frank Scott: What sets this design apart from other similar or resembling concepts?. David Alan Peters : Im not sure I know of any resembling designs for a doorbell but this doorbell is also unique in that it is cylindrical and projected out slightly from the home, where most doorbells lay flat against the wall. .Frank Scott: How did you come up with the name for this design? What does it mean?. David Alan Peters : Since this design incorporates spears I chose &quot;Alikos&quot; for this model which means &quot;Defender of man kind&quot; and symbolically defends your home. I used Guidepost Doorbells because it is shaped like a post and with it&#039;s light guides the way to your door. .Frank Scott: Which design tools did you use when you were working on this project?. David Alan Peters : I like to design with my imagination and then do a few sketches and finally do technical drawings by hand. .Frank Scott: What is the most unique aspect of your design?. David Alan Peters : I think the slim cylindrical spear shaped design incorporating an illuminated glass cylinder is very unique for a doorbell. .Frank Scott: Who did you collaborate with for this design? Did you work with people with technical / specialized skills?. David Alan Peters : I worked with a highly skilled retired machine shop owner. &quot;Tom Scott&quot; who machined my prototypes for me on his manual lathe. .Frank Scott: What is the role of technology in this particular design?. David Alan Peters : The technology is simple incorporating a G4 LED and sub-miniature switch. .Frank Scott: Is your design influenced by data or analytical research in any way? What kind of research did you conduct for making this design?. David Alan Peters : Before finalizing designs making my prototypes I showed the designs to friends and family to get some feedback.
Since making the prototypes I have showed them to many store owners and have gotten allot of positive feedback from them.
I did a fair amount of research on the internet to find the correct glass and electronic components I used. .Frank Scott: What are some of the challenges you faced during the design/realization of your concept?. David Alan Peters : One challenge was getting the mounting plate, back nut and nipple just right, so it would function the way I wanted it to and at the same time look good. .Frank Scott: How did you decide to submit your design to an international design competition?. David Alan Peters : I entered my design into the competition to hopefully get some recognition and publicity. .Frank Scott: What did you learn or how did you improve yourself during the designing of this work?. David Alan Peters : I have learned allot about micro and mini switches and other components that are in the doorbells and have made some good supply contact. I have also learned allot about small LEDs. And I learned I needed to communicate very precise directions for the glass manufacturers and machinist to get everything just right. .Frank Scott: Any other things you would like to cover that have not been covered in these questions?. David Alan Peters : The finish I will be using on the doorbells is a proprietary water based patina applied by hand and then sprayed with a super hard UV resistant coating, creating a beutiful appearance. .